Hydraulic motor



(No Model.) P. 1?. HELTZEL.

: HYDRAULIC MOTOR.

No. 348,010 I Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

w S b HA- b N? I. a .1; :1 5 I: Q $5 ii E q :1 E I: :1 g E @NITE STATES PATENT PETER F. HELTZEL, OF FOND DU LAO, \VISCONSIN.

HYDRAULIC MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,010; daled August. 24, 1886.

Application filed January 29, 1386. Serial No. 190,201. (No model.)

To all 20/ 10171, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER F. IlnLTznL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lac and Sta. e of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Motors, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvent-ion relates toimprovements in hydraulic motors; and it consists, principally, in the construction and arrangement of the flume or casing inclosing the power-wheel, whereby the body portion of the flume or casing is adapted to be sunk below the bed of the watercourse, thus greatly facilitating the pas age of water to the wheel and materially increasing the power obtained.

It further consists in the details of eonstrnc- I tion, all as fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a flame embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view,an(l

Fig. 4 is adetached view in perspective,of the water-board.

The body A. of the flame is of any desired construction, and may be made of any suitable material, the form shown being that found best suited for the purpose intended, and consists of an approximately rectangularcase with its rear side, a, cut away at the corners to present inclined or beveled faces b, which direct the water passing through the tlume to a central opening, 0, in the side a, through which it escapes. The interior ofthe flume is subdivided horizontally into chambers d e by a removable partition or water-board, B, resting on suitable brackets or ledges, f, secured to the walls of the flame, and said partition is provided with a feedopening, m, and a central opening, g, which latter is in line with a passage, h, in an upright or post, 0, resting at its lower end upon the partition, as shown. The hollow upright G is braced at its lower end against side-pressure, in any convenient manner, as by cleats or strips i bolted to the upper side of the partition B.

WVithin the chamber 0, below the partition B, is arranged a horizontal power-wheel, D, the shaft E of which revolves at its lower end in a bearing, j, upon the bottom of the fiume, whilev the opposite end of the shaft extends up through the central opening in the'partition and through thepassage in the upright O, and

revolves in a bearing, k, carried by stays Z supported at or near the upper end of said upright. The shalt E carries at its upper end a driving-pulley or other suitable device by which'power may be transmitted in any welllznown manner to the machinery to be driven.

The upper edge of the body portion A of the flame is est-ended laterally at the rearside and ends to form a ledge. z, and supported upon the flume above said ledge is a rectangular frame, H, consisting of posts m, carrying at their upper ends longitudinal heamsnn', connected by cross-beams n if. The beams 11 n, as also the beams n n, are slightly separated, as shown, and the outer edge of each beam n and a" is in line with the edge of the ledge f, and said beams and ledge are connected by vertical strips 0, arranged side by side a short distance apart, so as to constitute a grating, which, while permitting the ready flow of water to the interior of the ilume, at the same time prevents the passage thereto of floating bodies.

In suitable guide-grooves in the posts in are arranged gates M, which may be adjusted by any convenient means and serve to control the passage of water through the flume.

To render the chamber 6, within which the power-wheel revolves, perfectly free from obstructions, and at the same time prevent sagging of the partition B under the weight of the intlowing water, I provide the upper side of said partition at or nearits ends with trusses P, preferably constructed as shown. By this arrangement it will be seen that the usual braces and stays within the chamber a to sus- 'tain the partition in place are dispensedwith,

and that the chamber may be made comparatively small and yet afford sufficient space for the free movements of the wheel and the ready passage of the water.

In practice the body portion of the flume or casing A is let down into the bed of ariver or other stream of water, so that the lower edge of the grating is on a level with the bottom of the stream, while the upper edge thereof is at high-water mark. Thus it will be evidentthat by properly adjusting the gates the volume of water admitted to the fiume may be readily controlled, and as it flows through the feedopening in the partition B it strikes the blades or floats of the power-wheel and rapidly re volves the latter. As the water passes from the wheel it escapes through the passage 0, which is provided with an escape tube or chute, c, and the water is thereby again conducted to the body of the stream. This tube or chute is of any suitable length depending upon the grade of the river bottom, and is arranged in such a position that the onward flow of the stream over the mouth of the chute tends to suck or draw the water through it, and thus materially assists in facilitating the rapid passage ofwater through the flume.

By the use of my invention I overcome the expense and many objections incident to the construction of a dam, and at the same time avoid the danger of having the structure carried away by unusual tides, as the water may readily pass over the top of the flume through the framework above when the gates are all adjusted to an elevated position, as in such case there is comparatively little resistance olfered to the onward movement of the stream. It will therefore be observed that the mill or machinery to be driven by the water may be placed directly above the upper frame-work of the flume out of reach of high water without the usual liability of being swept away.

I do not limit my invention to the exact construction and arrangement of parts set forth, nor to any particular kind of power-wheel, as any suitable wheel may be employed, and the construction of the flnmeitself may be slightly varied without departing from the essential features of the invention.

I claim- 1. The combination,with the casing adapted to be sunk in a stream, as described, and provided with an escape-chute, of a removable partition having a feed-opening and resting upon brackets within the casing, and provided on its upper side with trusses, as described, a power-wheel below the partition and adjustable gates above the casing, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the casing provided with an escape-chute, of a removable partition having a feed-opening and supported within the casing and provided on its upper side with trusses, of a power-wheel below the partition, a frame-work above the casing provided with adjustable gates and grating, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the rectangular casing provided at its rear with an escapechute, and inclined sides leading thereto, of

a horizontal removable partition having a feedopening, a power-wheel arranged below said partition with its shaft projecting up through the same, a tubular upright above the partition and inclosing said shaft, a frame-work carried by the casing, independently adjustable gates within the frame-work on all four sides thereof, and grating supported by the framework and inclosing said gates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER F. HELTZEL.

XVitnesses:

W. A. ELDREDGE, JOHN KELRoY. 

